The video "A Private Universe" evokes surprise and dismay among educators and scientists by demonstrating that even the brightest students fail to grasp a seemingly simple and fundamental concept--the reason for seasons. This literature review describes the findings of 41 studies that collectively illustrate why the concept proves difficult to…

The lower level of participation of females in computer science courses is a continuing concern for educators. A number of different reasons for this lack of participation have been put forward, including differences in attitudes, bias, role models, differential treatment by classmates and teachers, patterns of computer use, availability of…

Discusses general statistical methods which could be employed to develop homework problems and laboratory exercises. Methods emphasize experimental design and the effects of uncertainties on inferences drawn from experimental data. (CW)

Discusses the artificial-intelligence-based microworld DiBi and MULEDS, a multilevel diagnosis system. Developed to adapt tutoring style to the individual learner. Explains that DiBi sets up a learning environment, and simulates elastic impacts as a subtopic of classical mechanics, and supporting reasoning on different levels of mental domain…

The Internet and the Information Super Highway have become familiar buzz words. This paper briefly discusses five projects with the general aim of using telecommunications and the Internet to foster the renewal of math and science education in rural schools. The broad questions, "Does access to the Internet and the Information Superhighway…

Proposes a mathematical computer model for the behavior of liquids using the classical dynamic principles of Sir Isaac Newton and the molecular dynamics method invented by other scientists. Concludes that other applications will be successful using supercomputers to go beyond simple Newtonian physics. (CW)

Described is a mineral identification program which uses a shell system for creating expert systems of a classification nature. Discusses identification of minerals in hand specimens, thin sections, and polished sections of rocks. (Author/CW)

The focus of this study was to understand and describe the nature of a professional community of interdisciplinary science teachers linked together through a telecommunications network. Thirty two high school science teachers participated in a 2 week summer institute. Patterns of teacher participation and changes within this community were…

Significant information on the relative thickness of plutons, the structure of poorly exposed or concealed magnetic units, and possible evidence of mineralized ground are discussed. The techniques used to produce images that reveal the new information are described. A list of 34 references is included. (CW)

Discussed is the need for professors to be able to obtain updated reliable data regarding the professional requirements of their graduating students. The development and design of a theory that will establish a definitional system for skills and knowledge required for graduation is described. (KR)

Describes the use of the Brown scale and reports the results of its use in an experiment. Describes the instrument and details the experiment. Concludes that the Brown scale is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring attitude toward computer instruction. A copy of the instrument is included. (CW)

Reports on a study designed to investigate how the use of computer assisted instruction (CAI) tutorial programs, incorporating advance organizers and involving various sizes of groups of subjects, would affect achievement scores, retention scores, and rates of learning. (TW)

Proposed are the use of implementation strategies available to teachers through the application of Robert Gagne's nine instructional events. The application of computer technology in science education is discussed. (CW)

This study is an attempt to determine the extent of telecommunications use by secondary school science teachers in the Queens borough of New York City. Science teachers in 39 middle schools and 32 high schools were surveyed in May, 1994, in the following categories of information: access to computers, hardware preference, hardware in use, access…

The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS), with support from the National Science Foundation, is conducting a three-year project to develop a model for implementing educational computing in school science. This paper explains the tentative model in detail and presents the results of a pilot test of the model, which project staff conducted…